Feeding, sorting and grading system for elongate produce

ABSTRACT

A feed device for a unit for sorting elongate items, particularly vegetables such as carrots, includes a slanted conveyor (23) with a plurality of freely rotatable transverse rollers (24) driven by two endless chains. The conveyor includes three longitudinal sections, i.e. a lower section (23a) having a device (30) for rotating the rollers (24) in the same direction as the forward direction of the conveyor (23), an intermediate section (23b) where the rollers (24) are freely rotatable, and an upper section (23c) having an element (33) for rotating the rollers (24) in the opposite direction to the forward direction of the conveyor. A unit for sorting elongate items is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a feeding device for a unit for sortingelongate produce, in particular vegetables such as carrots. It alsorelates to a sorting unit comprising such a feeding device as well as toa distribution device and to a grading device fitted to this sortingunit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The grading operations of fruit or vegetables requires that these latterbe individualized in order for them to be analyzed optically. Thisoperation has proved to be difficult when such fruit or vegetablesconsist of elongate produce, such as for example carrots, owing to thefact that the feeding of the graders requires an assembly line of theproduce starting from a shipment of products delivered in bulk.

Such an assembly line requires in fact the arrangement of the producewith a constant flow in parallel rows, so as to ensure a good yield bythe grader,in each of which rows the items of produce are sufficientlywidely spaced to allow their individual optical analysis.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

At present, there does not exist a feeding device enabling the grader tobe fed under optimal conditions of yield and reliability and theobjective of the present invention is to make good this deficiency byproviding a feeding device capable of dividing a stream of elongateproduce into a number of parallel rows in each of which the produce arearranged one after another.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a sorting unit forelongate produce possessing optimal rate and reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose the invention relates in the first instance to afeeding device for a sorting unit for elongate produce, in particularvegetables such as carrots, suitable for arranging a shipment of suchproduce delivered in bulk in parallel rows in each of which the items ofproduce are aligned one after the other, the feeding device beingcharacterized in that it comprises an inclined conveyor extending in anascending slope, comprising a number of transverse rollers each freelyrotatable round a transverse axis borne near its ends by twolongitudinal endless chains driven synchronously and spaced so that twosuccessive rollers define between them a receptacle for an item ofproduce, the conveyor comprising longitudinally starting from its lowend at which produce is fed in:

a first lower longitudinal section including machinery for rotating therollers around their axis in the same sense of rotation as the forwarddirection of the conveyor,

a second intermediate longitudinal section along the length of which therollers are free to rotate,

and a third upper longitudinal section including machinery for rotatingthe rollers around their axis in the opposite direction to the forwarddirection of the conveyor.

According to this device the produce is first made to ascend the lengthof the lower longitudinal section as a result of the rotation of therollers in the same direction of rotation as the forward direction ofthe conveyor. After an intermediate transfer zone the produce thenreaches the level of the upper longitudinal section along the length ofwhich the rotation of the rollers in the opposite direction to theforward direction of the conveyor causes firstly rejection towards thelower longitudinal section of the produce incorrectly placed between tworollers and, secondly, a separation of the produce possibly overlappingor superposed between the rollers.

In practice, such a device makes it possible to arrange the items ofproduce one after another between successive rollers with a high feedingrate and with 100% filling rate of the conveyor. As an example, withproduce such as carrots, the rate of forward movement of a conveyor inconformity with the invention may attain approximately one m/s.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, theintermediate section of the conveyor includes a friction wheel alignedso as to present a tangential contact with the lower generator of therollers, the friction wheel being made to rotate by the machinerycausing the upper section of the conveyor to rotate.

The presence of this friction wheel has the advantage of stopping therotation of the rollers conferred by the machinery causing the rotationof the lower longitudinal section and of reversing this rotation beforethe rollers reach the straight part of the upper longitudinal section.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the axis ofeach roller includes near one of its ends at least one toothed wheel,the machinery for rotating the rollers consisting of a fixed chain atright angles to the lower section and, at right angles to the uppersection, of a longitudinal endless chain driven at a rate appreciablyhigher than that of the conveyor, the chains extending at a slopeidentical with that of the conveyor and being arranged to mesh with thetoothed wheels of the rollers.

Furthermore, the feeding device advantageously features lateral guidanceelements for the toothed wheels of the axes of the rollers suitable formaintaining the wheels along a rectilinear trajectory.

Moreover, each chain drive for the rotation of the wheels preferentiallypossesses an initial lower section extending at a slope with aninclination substantially higher than that of the conveyor.

Such an initial inclination makes it possible to obtain a progressivemeshing of the toothed wheels which eliminates any risk of damage tothese latter.

The invention also relates to a sorting unit for elongate produce, inparticular vegetables such as carrots, comprising, in addition to afeeding device such as that described above:

a distribution device for the produce comprising a conveyor possessing aloading zone arranged plumb with the upper end of the feeding device anda distribution zone extending horizontally, the conveyor featuring:

a number of inclined transverse flaps each of which is capable ofswivelling around a transversal axis borne near its ends by twolongitudinal endless chains driven synchronously, the flaps beingarranged so that two successive flaps between them define a receptacleof variable width depending on their inclination to each other,

machinery for tilting the flaps adapted, on the one hand, to arrangethem at an inclination defining a minimal receptacle width, at rightangles to the loading zone, adapted in order to make it possible toreceive all of the produce delivered by the feeding device and, on theother, to cause the tilting of the flaps so as to confer on them aninclination suitable for the unloading of the produce borne by thelatter at right angles to the unloading zones,

a grading device equipped with means for optical analysis and a numberof parallel transport lines including transfer machinery equipped withan initial loading section for the produce arranged plumb with anunloading zone of the distribution device.

This sorting unit thus contains a distribution device which ensures thetransfer of the rows of produce arranged by the feeding device to agrading device thus making it possible to feed this latter at a rateidentical with that of the feeding device.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention relating tothe distribution device:

each flap of the said distribution device is equipped at right angles toat least one of its ends with a castor with a horizontal axis ofrotation parallel to the swivel axis of the flaps,

the machinery for tilting includes at least one horizontal longitudinaltrack, arranged to constitute a rolling surface for the castors, each ofthe tracks being equipped with at least one interruption of the rollingsurface at right angles to an unloading zone, suitable for leading to atilting of the flaps.

Furthermore, the machinery for transfer of the produce advantageouslycomprises for each transport line, two parallel transporting bandsdriven synchronously, arranged with respect to each other so as todefine transversally a V-shaped channel capable of accommodating andtransporting a row of produce.

This transfer machinery is, in addition, preferentially dividedlongitudinally into two sections aligned such that one is the extensionof the other: a first section incorporating the initial loading section,the two transporting bands of which are driven synchronously at a ratelower than that of the grading device, and a terminal section, the twotransporting bands of which are driven at a rate equal to that of thegrading device.

This arrangement has the advantage of making it possible to increase thedistance separating the items of produce before these latter reach thegrading device.

Moreover, in accordance with another characteristic of the invention,the machinery for tilting the flaps of the distribution device areadapted to cause successively:

an initial tilting suitable for separating the flaps by a predefineddistance capable of causing the removal of the produce havingtransversal dimensions smaller than a given lower value of grading,

at least one additional tilting capable of making possible the unloadingof the produce of transverse dimensions included between the given upperand lower grading values,

a final additional tilting suitable for the removal of all of theproduce not unloaded along the length of the conveyor of thedistribution device.

Such a distribution device makes it possible to perform an initialsorting leading to the systematic removal of the produce the size ofwhich is greater or smaller than the given grading values.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the sortingunit comprises:

a first feeding device such as that described above,

a first distribution device adapted to remove the produce of dimensionssmaller than the lower grading value and greater than the higher gradingvalue, respectively, and to unload alternatively a number of rows ofproduce at right angles to two successive unloading zones,

two parallel secondary feeding and distribution assemblies extending atright angles with respect to the first distribution device, eacharranged to be fed by produce delivered at right angles to one of theunloading zones of the first distribution device,

each of the assemblies successively comprising a feeding device and adistribution device,

the distribution device of one of the assemblies being adapted topossess an unloading zone suitable for the simultaneous unloading of anumber n of rows of produce plumb with n lines of transport driven bythe transfer machinery for the grading device,

the distribution device of the other assembly being longer than that ofthe first assembly and being adapted to possess an unloading zone ableto make it possible to unload a number m of rows of produce plumb with mlines of transport driven by the transfer machinery for the gradingdevice parallel to the n lines of transport previously mentioned.

Such a unit offers the advantage of its being able to operate at a veryhigh rate. In fact, the presence of the two secondary feeding anddistribution assemblies enables a large number of transport lines to befed simultaneously. As an example, such a sorting unit may comprise agrading device serving a dozen parallel transport lines.

Furthermore, the grading device preferentially comprises a conveyorfeaturing:

a number of parallel and transverse conveyor pins attached to supportsborne by longitudinal endless chains arranged so that a longitudinalseries of conveyor pins extends along each transport line of thetransfer machinery, the pins being fitted with a locking mechanism ableto maintain them in a conveyor position in which an item of produce isborne by a given number of successive pins,

triggering machinery for the locking mechanism for the conveyor pinsadapted to cause the selective tilting of a given number of pins for thepurpose of unloading the produce borne by the latter in the unloadingzones.

Furthermore, in accordance with another characteristic of the inventionrelating to this grading device:

each conveyor pin is prolonged by a body containing an aperture havingan oblong shape with a vertical main axis accommodating an articulationaxis forming an integral part of a support suitable for making possiblea clearance of the pin in a vertical direction, the body featuringtransversely a convex frontal lower face in which is provided a lowerslot suitable for accommodating in the conveyance position a spurforming an integral part of the support and an ejector lug extending thebody downwards and arranged opposite to the convex lower face withrespect to the slot,

the triggering machinery comprises a cam associated with a swivellingmechanism suitable for making it tilt around a longitudinal axis betweenan active position in which it is on a trajectory of the spurs of theconveyor pins and causes an upward displacement of the lugs and aninitial tilting of the pins and a passive position where the cam allowsthe passage of the lugs.

Such a design makes it possible to obtain a very convenient triggeringof the conveyor pins, the tilting of these latter, once the locking hasbeen initiated by a cam, being produced by the weight of the produceborne by the locking pins.

In addition, each conveyor pin advantageously comprises a buffer made ofa compressible material housed in an oblong aperture, adapted to serveas elastic means suitable for maintaining the conveyor pins locked.

The invention also relates to a distribution device comprising aconveyor having a loading zone and a distribution zone extendinghorizontally characterized in that the said conveyor comprises:

a number of inclined transverse flaps each able to swivel around atransverse axis borne, at its ends, by two longitudinal endless chainsdriven synchronously, the flaps being arranged so that two successiveflaps define between them a receptacle of a width varying as a functionof their respective inclination,

tilting machinery for the flaps adapted, on the one hand, so as todispose them at an inclination defining a minimal accommodating width,at right angles to the loading zone and, on the other, to cause thetilting of the flaps so as to confer on them an inclination suitable forthe unloading of the produce borne by the latter at right angles to theunloading zones.

The invention finally relates to a grading device comprising means foroptical analysis and a conveyor equipped with a number of paralleltransport lines, the grading device being characterized in that theconveyor comprises:

a number of parallel and transverse conveyor pins, attached to supportsborne by longitudinal endless chains, the pins being equipped with alocking mechanism able to maintain them in a conveyance position inwhich an item of produce is borne by a given number of successive pins,

triggering machinery for the locking mechanism for the conveyor pinsadapted to cause the selective tilting of a given number of pins inorder to unload the produce borne by the latter in unloading zones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics, objectives and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description which follows withreference to the appended diagrams which present a preferred embodimentas a non-limiting example. In these diagrams which form an integral partof the present description:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sorting unit in conformity with theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal section of a feeding device inconformity with the invention,

FIG. 3 is a scaled-up partial longitudinal section of the lowerlongitudinal section of this feeding device,

FIG. 4 is a scaled-up partial longitudinal section of the upper andintermediate longitudinal sections of this feeding device,

FIG. 5 is a scaled-up partial transverse section through a plane A,

FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal section of a distribution device inconformity with the invention,

FIG. 7 is a schematic partial top view of the first distribution deviceof the sorting unit,

FIG. 8 is a schematic partial top view of the distribution device of oneof the secondary feeding and distribution assemblies of the sortingunit,

FIG. 9 is a scaled-up partial longitudinal section of this distributiondevice, also presenting the machinery for the transfer of the producetowards the grading device,

FIG. 10 is a partial top view of this transfer machinery,

FIG. 11 is a partial top view of a transport line of this transfermachinery at the point where it joins the grading device,

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section representing the connection betweenthe transfer machinery and the grading device,

FIG. 13 is a scaled-up transverse section representing, on the one hand,the conveyor pins of the grading device arranged in a tilted positionfor one of the pins and in a locked position for the other pin and, onthe other hand, the triggering machinery for these conveyor pins,

FIG. 14 is a partial longitudinal section of the grading devicerepresenting machinery for final triggering suitable for tilting all ofthe conveyor pins,

and FIG. 15 is a partial longitudinal section of the grading devicerepresenting a supporting device for the retriggering of the conveyorpins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The sorting unit shown in FIG. 1 is particularly suited to perform thesorting of vegetables such as carrots as a function of predefinedselection criteria linked to the diameter, the length, the colour, thecurvature, etc . . . of these vegetables.

This sorting unit comprises three principal stations:

a first station comprising a feeding device 1 suitable for arranging ashipment of the carrots delivered in bulk in parallel rows and adistribution device 2 designed in particular to remove the carrotshaving diameters smaller and larger, respectively, than given sizes andto deliver the carrots not removed at right angles to two unloadingzones:

a second station comprising two parallel secondary feeding anddistribution assemblies extending at right angles with respect to thedistribution device 2 of the first station and each comprising a loadingsection situated plumb with the distribution device, the secondaryassemblies being suited to feed simultaneously twelve transport linesand each comprising successively:

a conveyor belt 3, 4 equipped with an initial loading section arrangedplumb with an unloading zone of the distribution device 2 of the firststation,

a grid conveyor 5, 6 suitable for the removal of pieces of carrot,

a feeding device 7, 8 suitable for re-arranging the carrots in parallelrows,

and a distribution device 9, 10 designed to make possible thesimultaneous unloading of six rows of carrots plumb with six paralleltransport lines, the distribution devices being arranged so that theirunloading zones are longitudinally displaced so as to feed twelvetransport lines,

a third station comprising transfer machinery 11 equipped with initialloading sections situated respectively plumb with the distributiondevices 9, 10 of the second station and a grading device 12 with twelvetransport lines equipped with means for optical analysis 13 of any knowntype such as camera, . . . , and conveyor belts such as 14, 15 forremoval of the graded produce.

In addition, this sorting unit comprises in the standard manner meansfor waste disposal able to deliver the waste towards a waste collector16 and comprising principally: a waste disposal belt 17 arranged plumbwith the feeding device 1 of the first station, arranged to make itpossible to carry away the produce retrieved manually, three wastedisposal belts 18-20 arranged plumb with the distribution device 2 ofthe first station, a waste disposal belt 21 situated plumb with the gridconveyors 5, 6 and a waste disposal belt 22 situated plumb with the endof the grading device 12.

In the first place, the respective feeding devices 1, 7, 8 of the firstand second stations are of identical design and comprise a conveyor 23extending in an upwardly inclined slope at an angle betweenapproximately fifteen and twenty five degrees.

This conveyor 23 comprises a number of transverse rollers like 24mounted in free rotation around transverse axes such as 25 each borne,towards their ends, by two longitudinal endless chains such as 26 drivensynchronously, the rollers being spaced so that two successive rollersdefine a space suitable for accommodating a row of carrots.

Each of the rollers 24 comprises in addition near one of its ends twoseparated, toothed wheels 27, 28 between which are accommodated lateralguidance organs fixed such as 29 suitable for maintaining the toothedwheels along a straight trajectory. It should be noted that the onlyreason for the interior toothed wheel 28 is to define a groove with theend of the rollers in which is accommodated a return cover designed toavoid the carrots getting stuck laterally.

Moreover, starting from its low end at which produce is fed in, theconveyor 23 comprises longitudinally three separate sections:

a first lower longitudinal section 23a comprising machinery for rotatingthe rollers 24 in the same direction of rotation as the forwarddirection of the conveyor 23. This machinery for rotation comprises afixed longitudinal chain 30 arranged to mesh with one of the toothedwheels 27 of the rollers 24. This fixed chain 30 comprises in additionan initial section 30a extending in a slope substantially greater thanthat of the conveyor 23 so as to progressively "get a grip" on thetoothed wheels 27,

a second intermediate longitudinal section 23b with inversion of thedirection of rotation of the rollers 24, including a friction wheel 31arranged so as to have a tangential contact with the lower generator forthe rollers, the friction wheel being borne by a transverse axis mountedon a bearing/and made to rotate with a direction of rotation opposite tothat of the conveyor 23,

a third longitudinal section 23c comprising machinery for rotating therollers 24 with a direction of rotation opposite to that of the conveyor23, adapted also to cause the friction wheel 31 to rotate. Thismachinery of rotation comprises a longitudinal endless chain 33, adaptedto mesh with the toothed wheel 27 of the rollers 24. This chain 33comprises in addition an initial section 33a having an inclinationsubstantially greater than that of the conveyor 23.

Furthermore, this chain 33 is driven at a speed slightly higher thanthat of the forward movement of the conveyor 23.

As indicated above such a conveyor 23 makes it possible to arrange theproduce between the rollers 24 such that these latter are aligned oneafter the other in parallel rows.

In the second place, the respective distribution devices 2, 9, 10 of thefirst and second stations are similar in principle, the differencebetween the distribution devices lying in the distribution of theunloading zones of these latter.

All these distribution devices comprise a conveyor 34 possessing aninclined loading zone 34a arranged to be plumb with the correspondingfeeding devices 1, 7, 8 and a horizontal distribution zone 34b.

This conveyor 34 comprises several inclined transverse flaps 35, 36, 37,38, 39, 40 able to swivel around transverse axes each borne near theirends by two longitudinal endless chains such as 137 drivensynchronously, the flaps being arranged so that two sucessive flapsdefine between them a groove of width varying as a function of theirrespective inclination.

Each of these flaps 35-40 is constituted transversally of a V-shapedprofile 41 opening in the direction of the axis of rotation, closed offat its base by a hollow tube 42 of diameter greater than the length ofthe base. This hollow tube 42 accommodates in addition at each of itsends a cap (not shown) able to swivel relative to the swivel axis.Furthermore, this hollow tube 42 comprises a longitudinal spur 42aarranged so as to protrude with respect to the upper face of the profile41 and adapted to prevent the produce from "jumping" between two rows offlaps 35-40 during the feeding of the distribution device 2, 9, 10.

These distribution devices comprise in addition machinery for tiltingthe flaps 35-40 adapted, on the one hand, to arrange them at aninclination defining a groove of minimal width at right angles to theloading zone 34a of the conveyor 34 and, on the other hand, to cause thetilting of the flaps at right angles to the unloading zones.

This machinery for tilting comprises in the first instance, two castorsfor each flap 35-40 such as 43a, 43b, 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b, 46a, 46b, 47a,47b, 48a, 48b with horizontal axes of rotation parallel to the swivelaxis, displaced laterally with respect to the flaps by a defineddistance variable from one flap to another as explained below. For thispurpose each of these castors 43-48 is borne by an axis extendingtransversally in the prolongation of the lower end of the profile 41 ofthe flaps 35-40.

The tilting machinery comprises, in addition, horizontal longitudinaltracks 49-53 arranged to constitute rolling surfaces for the castors43-48, each of the tracks being equipped with zones of interruption ofthe rolling surface suitable for leading to a tilting of the flaps35-40.

As shown in the FIGS. 7 and 8, the distribution devices 2, 9, 10comprise successively identical series of six flaps 35-40, the flaps ofeach of these series differing from one another by the arrangement ofthe castors 43-48 associated with these latter.

Thus each of these series comprises three first flaps 35-37 equipped atone of their ends with castors 43a, 44a, 45a displaced laterally withrespect to each other, and at their other end with three castors 43b,44b, 45b aligned longitudinally and separated by a distance "a" from theend of flap.

Each series of flaps comprises in addition three other flaps 38-40,equipped at one of their ends with three castors 46a, 47a, 48a alignedlongitudinally and separated by a distance "b" greater than "a" from theend of the flap and at their other end with three castors 46b, 47b, 48bdisplaced laterally with respect to each other.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the tracks of the distribution device 2of the first station are three in number displaced vertically:

a first upper track 49 extending at the loading zone 34a anddiscontinued plumb with the removal belt 18 adapted to cause a tiltingof all of the flaps 35-40 making it possible to remove all the producehaving a diameter smaller than a given size,

a second intermediate track 50 equipped with narrowings interrupting therolling surface suitable for causing the tilting of three flaps 35-37 atright angles to a conveyor belt 3 and simultaneously the tilting ofthree other flaps 38-40 at right angles to the other conveyor belt 4,

a third lower track 51 discontinued plumb with the removal belt 19,adapted to cause a total tilting of all of the flaps 35-40.

As an example, the tilting machinery for this first distribution device2 makes it possible to remove the carrots having a diameter less than 22mm or greater than 45 mm.

As shown in FIG. 8, the distribution devices 9, 10 comprise an uppertrack 52 equipped with narrowings interrupting the rolling surface ofthe castors 43-48 suitable for causing the simultaneous tilting of sixflaps 35-40 at right angles to six transport lines and a lower track 53suitable for preventing inopportune rebounds of the flaps.

Finally, the distribution devices 9, 10 comprise a brush roller 54,shown in FIG. 2, interposed between the loading zone 34a of the conveyor34 and the upper end of the feeding devices 1, 7 and 8 and made torotate synchronously with the endless chains 137, in a direction ofrotation opposite to the forward direction of the conveyor 34. Thepurpose of such a brush roller 54 is to prevent rebounds of the produceand to ensure perfect synchronization.

The transfer machinery comprises twelve transport lines such as 55, 56each arranged to receive a row of produce distributed by the devices 9,10. In addition, six of these transport lines such as 55 have an initialsection 55a adapted to be plumb with the distribution device 9, whereasthe six other transport lines such as 56 are interrupted at right anglesto the other distribution device 10.

Each of these transport lines 55, 56 comprises two parallel conveyorbelts 57, 58 driven synchronously, arranged relative to each other so asto define transversally a V-shaped groove able to accommodate andtransport the produce.

The machinery for driving these transport lines 55, 56 comprises ageared motor 59 and a transmission system including a bevel gear 60 anda chain 61/toothed wheel 62 mechanical transmission (for the purposes ofsimplification the transmission system of a single transport line 56 hasbeen shown in FIG. 10). Furthermore, the two conveyor belts 57, 58 ofeach transport line 55, 56 are coupled by means of bevel gears 63.

In addition, the initial section 55a of the transport lines 55 isconnected to the principal section of these latter by a transmission ofthe toothed wheel type 64/synchronous belt 65 type suitable forconferring the same forward speed to the sections.

The transfer machinery comprises, finally, for each transport line 55,56 a terminal section such as 55b linking with the grading device/connected to the principal section of the transport lines 55, 56 by areduction transmission of the pulley 66/tension 67 type suitable forconferring to the terminal section a forward speed greater than that ofthe principal section and equal to that of the grading device 12.

As represented in FIG. 11, such a terminal section 55b makes it possibleto accelerate the displacement of the produce, thus causing a moremarked separation of these latter which facilitates their opticalanalysis.

Finally, the grading device 12 comprises a conveyor also comprisingtwelve transport lines driven synchronously, each arranged as anextension of a transport line 55, 56 of the transfer machinery.

This conveyor comprises six endless chains such as 68 drivensynchonously, each arranged to run between two friction pads 69, 70accommodated in facing grooves arranged in two profiles, upper 71 andlower 72. As represented in FIG. 13, each of these chains 68 bears twoseries of supports such as 73 arranged on opposite sides of the chain oneach of which are attached two transverse conveyor pins such as 74, 75equipped with a locking mechanism capable of maintaining them in aconveyance position in which each item of produce is borne by a givennumber of pins depending on the length of the produce. Furthermore, theupper profile 72 includes a cap 76 arranged to make a tangent with theupper face of the supports 73 so as to prevent these latter from tiltingtransversally with respect to the profile.

In the first instance, each conveyor pin 74, 75 has a concavelongitudinal shape and an inverted T-shaped cross-section. Such across-section combined with the mode of distribution of the conveyorpins 74, 75 enables the surface of the produce to be masked as little aspossible so as to provide an optimal view of the produce.

Furthermore, each of these conveyor pins is extended on the support 73side by a body 77 arranged to be accommodated in a transversal groove73a arranged in the support.

This body 77 contains in the first instance an oblong aperture with avertical main axis accommodating an articulation axis 78 integral to thesupport 73 suitable for giving rise to a clearance of the conveyor pins74, 75 in a vertical direction. Furthermore, this body 77 includestransversally a quadrant-shaped lower frontal face 79 at the bottom ofwhich is provided a lower slot 80 suitable for accommodating, in theconvoyer position, a spur 81 forming an integral part of the support 73.

The body 77 of the conveyor pins 74, 75 includes moreover an ejector lug82 projecting downwards from the said body and arranged opposite to thelower face 79 with respect to the slot 80.

Each body 77 of the conveyor pins 74, 75 includes finally a buffer 83made of a compressible material accommodated in a transverse aperturearranged to emerge in the lower part of the oblong hole and adapted toserve as elastic means able to keep locked the conveyor pins and toprevent an accidental unlocking not due to mechanical causes.

The grading device 12 also comprises triggering machinery arranged plumbwith the belts 14,15 for the removal of the produce adapted to cause theselective tilting of a given number of conveyor pins 74, 75 for thepurpose of unloading the produce borne by these latter onto the removalbelts.

This triggering mechanism comprises a raised cam 84 borne by anelectromagnet 85 suitable for causing it to rotate around a longitudinalaxis between two positions:

an active position (shown at the left of FIG. 13) where this cam 84 islocated on the trajectory of the lugs 82 of the conveyor pins 74, 75 andwhich, due to its profile, causes an upward displacement of the lugs andan initial tilting of the pins,

and a passive position where this cam 84 allows the lugs 82 to pass.

The grading device 12 includes, moreover, final triggering machineryadapted to cause the tilting of all of the conveyor pins 74,75 at rightangles to the removal belt 22. As shown in FIG. 14, this triggeringmechanism comprises a ramp 86 arranged to be located on the trajectoryof the lugs 82 of the conveyor pins 74, 75 and raised to initiate thetilting of these latter.

The grading device 12 finally includes a supporting device 87 placeddownstream from the ramp 86 able to cause a tilting of the conveyor pins74, 75 towards their locked conveyor position. As shown in FIG. 15, thissupporting device consists of a disk 87 borne by the rotation shaft ofthe chains 68, equipped with an edge comprising slots 88 each suitablefor accommodating a conveyor pin 74,75 and for causing this latter totilt upwards.

Although these latter are not described the sorting unit also comprisesin a standard manner all of the control and automation devices making itpossible to synchronize the various conveyors and to index the positionof the produce on the grading device 12 in order to control thetriggering of the conveyor pins 74, 75 plumb with the adequate removalbelts 14, 15.

I claim:
 1. Feeding device for a unit for sorting elongate items ofproduce, and for arranging a shipment of said produce delivered in bulkin parallel rows in each of which the items of produce are aligned oneafter the other, the feeding device comprising:an upwardly inclinedfirst conveyor extending at a constant inclination having a plurality offreely rotatable transverse rollers; each roller being mounted around atransverse axis borne near its ends by two endless chains extending insaid constant inclination and driven synchronously; said rollers beingspaced so that two successive rollers define therebetween a receptaclefor an item of produce; said conveyor comprising longitudinally startingfrom its low end at which the produce is fed in:a first longitudinallower section including means for rotating the rollers around their axisin the same direction as the forward direction of the conveyor; a secondlongitudinal intermediate section along the length of which the rollersare freely rotatable; and a third longitudinal upper section includingmachinery for rotating the rollers around their axis in a directionopposite to the forward direction of the conveyor.
 2. Feeding deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the conveyor extends upwards and isinclined at an angle ranging approximately between fifteen andtwenty-five degrees.
 3. Feeding device according to claim 1, wherein theintermediate section of the conveyor includes a friction wheelpositioned so as to make tangential contact with a lower generator forthe rollers; said friction wheel adapted to rotate by the machinery forrotating the rollers in the upper section.
 4. Feeding device accordingto claim 1, wherein each roller further comprises near one of its endsat least one toothed wheel; the machinery for rotating the rollerscomprising a fixed chain at right angles to the lower section, and atright angles to the upper section a longitudinal endless chain driven ata rate appreciably higher than that of the conveyor; said chainsextending at a slope identical with that of the conveyor and beingarranged to mesh with the toothed wheels of the rollers.
 5. Feedingdevice according to claim 4, wherein each chain drive for the rotationof the wheels possesses an initial lower section extending at a slopewith an inclination substantially higher than that of the conveyor. 6.Feeding device according to claim 4, comprising lateral guidanceelements for the toothed wheels for maintaining the wheels along arectilinear path.
 7. Feeding device according to claim 6, wherein eachroller further comprises two separated toothed wheels, the lateralguidance elements being arranged to project longitudinally into thespace defined by the toothed wheels.
 8. Sorting unit for elongateproduce which comprises:a feeding device according to claim 1; a firstdistribution device for the produce comprising a conveyor meanspossessing a loading zone vertically aligned with the upper end of thefeeding device and a distribution zone projecting horizontally, saidconveyor means comprising:a number of inclined transverse flaps eachable to swivel around a transverse swivel axis borne near its ends bytwo longitudinal endless chains driven synchronously; said flaps beingarranged so that two successive flaps define therebetween a receptaclehaving a width varying as a function of the respective inclination ofthe flaps; means for tilting the flaps to arrange them in a first modeat an inclination defining a minimal width at right angles to theloading zone and to receive all of the produce delivered by the feedingdevice, and to confer on said flaps in a second mode an inclinationsuitable to unload the produce borne by said flaps at right angles to anunloading zone; and a grading device equipped with means for opticalanalysis and with a number of parallel transport lines comprisingtransfer machinery equipped with an initial loading section for theproduce vertically aligned with an unloading zone of the distributiondevice.
 9. Sorting unit according to claim 8, wherein the distributiondevice further comprises a brush roller interposed between the loadingzone of the distribution device and the upper end of the feeding device,said brush roller structured and arranged to rotate synchronously withthe endless chains driving the flaps in a direction of rotation oppositeto the forward direction of the chains.
 10. Sorting unit according toclaim 8, wherein the flaps of the distribution device have transversallya V-shaped opening in the direction of the swivel axis, closed off atits base by a hollow tube having its axis on the swivel axis, and adiameter greater than the length of said base.
 11. Sorting unitaccording to claim 8, wherein each flap of the distribution device isequipped, at right angles to at least one of its ends with a castorhaving a horizontal axis of rotation parallel to the swivel axis of saidflaps; and the means for tilting comprises at least one horizontallongitudinal track arranged to constitute a rolling surface for thecastors, each of the tracks being provided with at least oneinterruption of the rolling surface at right angles to an unloadingzone.
 12. Sorting unit according to claim 8, wherein the transfermachinery for the produce comprises for each line of transport twoparallel conveyor belts driven synchronously, arranged relative to eachother so as to define transversally a V-shaped channel for accommodatingand transporting a row of produce.
 13. Sorting unit according to claim12, wherein the transfer machinery is divided longitudinally into twosections one aligned as an extension of the other: a first sectionincorporating the initial loading section having two conveyor beltsdriven synchronously at a speed less than that of the grading device,and a terminal section where the conveyor belts are driven with a speedequal to that of the grading device.
 14. Sorting unit according to claim8, wherein the means for tilting the flaps of the distribution deviceare adapted to cause successively:an initial tilting suitable forseparating the flaps by a predetermined distance for removing producehaving transverse dimensions smaller than a given lower grading value;at least one additional tilting suitable for unloading produce oftransverse dimensions ranging between the given upper and lower gradingvalues; and a final additional tilting suitable for removing all of theproduce not unloaded along the length of the conveyor means of thedistribution device.
 15. Sorting unit according to claim 14, whichcomprises:a said first feeding device; a first distribution device forremoving produce of dimensions smaller than the lower grading value andgreater than the upper grading value, respectively, and for unloadingalternatively a number of rows of produce at right angles to twosuccessive unloading zones; two parallel secondary feeding anddistribution assemblies projecting at right angles to the firstdistribution device, each arranged to be fed with produce delivered atright angles to one of the unloading zones of the first distributiondevice; each of the said assemblies comprising successively a saidfeeding device, and a distribution device; the distribution device ofone of the said assemblies having an unloading zone suitable forunloading simultaneously a number n of rows of produce verticallyaligned with n lines of transport of the transfer machinery of thegrading device; and the distribution device of the other assembly, beinglonger than the first assembly and having an unloading zone suitable forunloading a number m of rows of produce vertically aligned with m linesof transport of the transfer machinery of the grading device parallel tothe n lines of transport.
 16. Sorting unit according to claim 15,wherein each secondary feeding and distribution assembly comprises aconveyor belt for bringing the produce delivered in bulk towards thefeeding devices of the assemblies, each conveyor belt being equippedwith an initial loading section vertically aligned with one of theunloading zones of the first distribution device; and a grid conveyorinterposed between the conveyor belt and the associated feeding device,for removing pieces of produce.
 17. Sorting unit according to claim 8,wherein the grading device includes a conveyor comprising:a plurality oftransverse and parallel conveyor pins attached to supports borne bylongitudinal endless chains arranged so that one longitudinal series ofconveyor pins projects in a prolongation of each line of transport ofthe transfer machinery, said pins being equipped with a lockingmechanism for maintaining them in a conveyor position in which an itemof produce is borne by a given number of successive pins; and triggeringmachinery operatively associated with the locking mechanism for causingthe selective tilting of a given number of pins in order to unload anitem of produce borne by said given number of pins in unloading zones.18. Sorting unit according to claim 17, wherein each endless chain ofthe grading device bears two facing series of supports placed on eitherside of the endless chain.
 19. Sorting unit according to claim 17,wherein each conveyor pin has a concave longitudinal shape and across-section in the form of an inverted T.
 20. Sorting unit accordingto claim 17, wherein each support is adapted to bear two conveyor pins.21. Sorting unit according to claim 17, wherein:each conveyor pin isextended by a body containing an oblong-shaped aperture having a mainvertical axis and housing an axis of articulation integral with thesupport, suitable for providing a clearance of said pin in a verticaldirection, said body comprising transversally a convex frontal lowerface having a lower slot suitable for accommodating in the conveyorposition a spur forming an integral part of the support and an ejectionlug extending said body downwards and situated opposite the convexfrontal lower face with respect to the slot; and the triggeringmachinery comprises a cam associated with a swivelling mechanismsuitable for causing the cam to tilt around a longitudinal axis betweenan active position in which it is on the trajectory of the lugs of theconveyor pins and causes an upward displacement of said lugs and aninitial tilting of said pins, and a passive position in which said camallows the lugs to pass.
 22. Sorting unit according to claim 21, whereineach conveyor pin includes compressible buffer means housed in theoblong aperture for maintaining the conveyor pins locked.
 23. Sortingunit according to claim 17, wherein the grading device comprises a finaltriggering mechanism adapted to cause the tilting of all of the conveyorpins at right angles to an unloading zone situated near a posterior endof the conveyor.
 24. Sorting unit according to claim 23, wherein thegrading device comprises support means placed downstream of the finaltriggering mechanism suitable for causing the tilting of the conveyorpins towards their locked conveyor position.